The Savane des Pétrifications is the most unusual landscape on Martinique. In Sainte-Anne, on the dry south-east coast, the trail starts at Anse à Prune beach and heads into scenery the tourism board describes as arid, rocky and desert-like, with rocks that look frozen in time. After the rainforest, banana fields and rainy volcano slopes of the north, it feels like another island. The ground is scrubby and open, the wind comes straight off the Atlantic and the coast is lined with small bays that few visitors reach. The name comes from the fossilised and mineral-rich stones that give the area its odd colour and texture. It is a place to walk slowly, take photographs and enjoy the sense of space rather than to tick off a single viewpoint.
Why it is worth doing
This is a landscape walk rather than a destination with a ticket office. The trail runs through open ground with little shade, so the reward is the contrast, with dry, wind-sculpted terrain on one side and the sea on the other. It sits close to the beaches of the far south, so a morning on the savane followed by a swim and lunch near Les Salines makes an easy day. Photographers like the early and late light, when the stones take on warm colours.
What to know before you go
There is almost no shade, so go early or late, wear a hat and sun protection, and carry plenty of water. Closed shoes are better than sandals on loose, rocky ground. The tourism board does not give a trail length or duration, so treat the walk as flexible: you can turn back whenever you have had enough.
Stay on the marked paths and leave the stones where they are, since the area is fragile and the formations are part of what people come to see. Rain can make the paths slippery, and the south is generally drier than the north, but the weather can still change.
Making it work
You need a car or taxi to reach Anse à Prune, as public transport is limited in this corner of the island. Parking near the start is informal, so keep valuables out of sight. Guided hikes of the savane are offered by local operators if you want the geology and plant life explained, and a guide also removes any worry about route finding.
Combine the walk with Grande Anse des Salines, which is nearby, and with a lunch in Sainte-Anne village, whose church square is a pleasant place to sit. If you are staying in Sainte-Luce or Le Diamant, it is an easy outing in the morning before the heat builds.
Good to know
The far south is the driest part of Martinique, and the landscape changes with the seasons. After rain the scrub turns greener and the paths are softer, while in the dry months the ground is hard, pale and dusty. Binoculars are handy for spotting seabirds along the coast, and a small bag for rubbish is a good habit, since there are no bins on the trail.
Allow time to linger at the small bays, where the water is often turquoise, but check conditions before swimming, as the Atlantic side can have strong currents and there are no lifeguards.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided coastal walk from Anse à Prune beach across open, rocky ground, with sea views and little shade.
Best time
Early morning or late afternoon, when the heat is lower and the light is soft.
How long
Roughly one and a half to three hours, depending how far you walk and how often you stop.
Tips
Carry plenty of water, wear a hat and closed shoes, stay on the paths and leave the stones where they are.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Walkers and photographers who want a dramatic dry landscape in the far south.
- Families
- Suitable for older children who can handle sun and uneven ground; there is no shade, so go early.
- Couples
- A quiet, scenic walk that pairs well with a swim at a nearby beach afterwards.
- Pair with
- Les Salines beach, or a lunch in Sainte-Anne village.
- Time needed
- A morning, including the drive from the south coast hotels.
Good questions
Where does the Savane des Pétrifications trail start?+
The tourism board says it starts from Anse à Prune beach in Sainte-Anne, in the south of the island.
What is it like?+
Arid, rocky, desert-like scenery with rocks that look frozen in time, very different from the green north of Martinique.
How long does the walk take?+
The tourism page does not give a duration. Allow one and a half to three hours depending on how far you go, and plan to turn back when you have had enough.
Is there shade or water on the trail?+
Very little shade and no water, so bring your own, along with a hat and sun protection.
Can I go with a guide?+
Local operators run guided hikes of the savane. Ask your hotel or a local outfitter for current options.
